Time switch



March 8, 1932. F, T, FEREDAY 1,848,335

TIME SWITCH Filed Sept. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1932. F. T. FEREDAY TIME SWITCH Filed Sept. 25. 1929 2 SheetsSheet Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE T. FEREDAY, OF ANCHORAGE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO. LOUISVILLE FROG, SWITCH & SIGNAL 00., 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE i TIME SWITCH Original application filed March 15,1927, Serial No. 175,616. Divided and this application filed September 25, .1929.

This invention relates to electric switch devices of the typewhich are adaptedto make or break an electric circuit after the ela se of a predetermined length of time, same eing capable of general use but being especially designed for use in connection with flashing time relay mechanisms of the type disclosed in application Serial No. 17 5,616, of which this application is a division.

The general purpose of the resent invention is to provide a switch device of the type mentioned which is of simple, inexpensive,

.durable construction, embodying a minimum number of parts compactly assembled,'and which isthoroughly reliable and efficient in use.

More particularly, the invention has in view to provide novel means whereby the period of time elapsing between initiation and completion of the operation of. the device may quickly and easily be varied with extreme accuracy.

With the foregoing and other purposes in view, the invention consists in theinovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings andv defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a switchdevice constructed in accordance with the invention.

' Fig. 2 is a bottomplan .view of'the strucillustrating in full and dotted lines, respec tively, normal and operated positions of the device. r j T i As illustrated in the drawings, the-present switch device, designatedgenerally as C is mounted upon thelower side of a suit ble Serial No. 395,158.

support'l' which may be the base of a relay mechanism as disclosed in the aforesaid'par ent. application. e l

In detail, the device C consists of a bracket 37 a of inverted U shape secured by screws or other suitable fasteners to the underside of the-support- 1 and inclusive of spaced, de-

pending arms 38 and 39 having a horizontal v shaft 36 journaled therein on which is mounted for free swinginginovement a frame 44, which, like the bracket 37a, is of inverted U-shape and inclusive of spaced arms 45, 46

disposed between the arms 38and 39 of said bracket 37a. J ournaled in the arms 45, 46, in spaced parallel relation to the shaft 36, is a. shaft 43." '6

' Loosely mounted on the shaft 36, for rotationwith respect'thereto, is a ratchet wheel 40 having integral therewith, or otherwise suitably fixed thereto, a pinion 41, while fixed to the: shaft 43 and meshing with said pinion 41 is a's-pur gear 42. Also fixed to said shaft 43 is'a pinion 4T whichimeshes with a spur gear 48 fixed to the shaft 36. Thus, if'the gear 48 is held against rotation and rotation is imparted to the ratchet wheel 40, the pinion 41 will produce rotation of the gear 42 which,

' in turn, will rotate the shaft 43 and the pin ion 47 and cause the latter to planetate about the gear 48, resulting in swinging movement of theframe 44 about the shaft 36. Normally, the frame 44 assumes, under the influence of gravity,- or, alternatively, a spring or its equivalent,'a dependingposition with respect to the shaft36, which position may be predetermined by adjustment of a stop member 57 with which an offset arm 44a of said frame is adapted for engagement. When the ratchet wheel 40 is rotated the frame 44 is adapted to be elevated in the manner stated to cause an abutment 49 carried by one of the arms-of said frame to engage and actuate a switch arm 50, thus to change the status of one or more circuits, and when this operation is completed the means for holding the gear 48 against rotation is adapted to be released to permit the frame 44 to return to its normal position. a

For holding the gear 48ag'ainst rotation electro-inagnetic means is provided consisting of a magnet 48b and a cooperating armature 48a, the latter being pivoted so as to drop to a predetermined position when the magnet is deenergized and to be lifted upon energization of said magnet to cause a suitably formed finger at the free end thereof to engage a tooth of the gear 48 to hold same against rotation. Thus, a switch which is actuated by elevation of the frame 4% may be in controlling relation to the circuit in which the magnet 48?) is included, whereby, upon elevation of said frame, the magnet circuit is opened thereby to permit the armature 41866 to drop and release the gear 48 to allow the frame 44 to return to normal position.

Formed as an extension of one of the arms of the brackets 37a is a scale arm 39a curved concentrically with respect to the shaft 36, while adapted for indicating cooperation with this scale arm is a pointer 46a formed at the end of one of the arms of the frame a l which swings about said shaft 36. Suitable calibrations are provided on the scale arm 39a, and thus, by adjustment of the stop member 57 so that the normal or lowermost position of the frame ll is such as to be indicated by alinement of the pointer 46a with any particular one of said calibrations, the necessary amount of travel of the frame i l from its normal or lowermost position to an elevated switch actuating position may be ascertained at a glance, and, the speed of operation of the ratchet wheel 40 being known, it is a relatively simple matter to adjust the stop member 57 to predetermine the normal position of the frame 44 so that any desired amount of time will elapse between initiation of upward movement of the frame l4 and actuation of the switch arm 50.

In the present instance the stop member 57 is in the form of an internally threaded tube mounted for longitudinal movement within a sleeve 53 and held against rotation relative to said sleeve in any suitable manner as, for example, by being provided with an exterior longitudinal groove or channel 56 into which a portion of the sleeve 53 is indented as inclicated at 55. The sleeve 53 is disposed in an opening in the support 1 and retained therein by a flange at its upper end engaging the top of said support and a nut 54 threaded on its lower end engaging the underside of said support. Threaded into the tube 57 and projecting above the top of the sleeve 53, and there provided with lock nuts 61 to hold it against rotation, is an adjusting screw 58.

Formed on this screw is a collar 59 which is disposed between a shoulder formed on the sleeve 53 and a. pm 60 carried by sa1d sleeve whereby it is held against longitudinal movement but is freely rotatable. Thus, by loosening the nuts 61 and rotating the screw 58 the stop tube 57 may be adjusted to predetermine the normal or lowermost position of the frame 44:, and when the desired adjustment of said tube has been effected said adjustment may be maintained simply by tightening the nuts 61.

Any suitable means for rotating the ratchet wheel 40 may be provided. In the present instance a lever arm is pivoted at one end upon the shaft .36 and carries a pawl 37 for cooperation with the teeth of said wheel, a holding dog 37b pivoted to a suitable fixed support such as the support 1 being provided whereby oscillation of said lever arm is effective to rotate said ratchet wheel intermittently in a single direction, specifically in a. direction to effect upward movement of the frame its. Oscillation of the lever 35 may be effected, for example, by means of the oscillating armature of a flashing signal relay as illustrated in the aforesaid parent application, a portion of such oscillating means being indicated herein generally as B.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the drawings, it is apparent that with the armature 48a disengaged from the gear 48 the ratchet wheel may be rotated without affecting the switch device C, since the shaft 36 will merely rotate in the bracket 37a. hen, however, under predetermined conditions the magnet 48?) is energized and the armature 48a thereby moved into holding engagement with the gear 48, oscillation of the lever arm 35 immediately results in elevation of the frame 4 1 in the manner previously explained, whereby, after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, as determined by the adjustment of the stop tube 57, the switch arm v is actuated to make or break a circuit such as the controlling circuit of the relay G and to dcenergize the magnet 48b, whereby operation of the relay Cis stopped and the frame 44 is per mitted to return to its normal position in readiness to complete the operation when the magnet 48b again is energized.

Vithout further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the class described, a switch, a. pivoted member adapted by swingingmovement to actuate said switch, a pair of inteimeshing gears one of which is carried by said member and the axis of the other of which is coincident with the pivotal axis of said member, means for rotating said first mentioned gear wheel, means for holding said second mentioned gear wheel against rotation whereby rotation of said first mentioned gear wheel results in switch actuating swinging movement-of said mom 1 mentioned shaft and meshing with said first her, a fixed scale element, a pointer car'- ried by said pivoted member for coo eration with said scale element, and means or variably predetermining the effective range of movement of said pivoted member.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a support, a frame element fixed to said support, a scale element carried by said frame element, a switch, a member pivoted to said frame element and adapted by swinging movement to actuate said switch, a pair of intermeshing gears one of which is carried by said frame element and the axis of the otherof which iscoincident with the pivotal axis of said member, means for rotating said first mentioned gear wheel, means for holding said second mentioned gear wheel against rotation whereby rotation of said first mentioned gear wheel results in switch actuating swinging movement of said member, a pointer on said member for cooperation with said scale element, and an adjustment screw carried by said support and constituting an abutment engagea'ble by a portion of said pivoted member to predetermine the normal spacing of the latter from the switch.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a switch, a fixed bracket, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a pair of gear wheels one of which is fixed and the other loose on said shaft, a member pivoted on said shaft and adapted by swinging movement to actuate said switch, a'shaft carried by said member, a pair of gears fixed to this last mentioned pair of gears, respectively, means for rotating said loose gear, and means for holding the gear which is fixed to said first mentionedshaft against rotation whereby rotation of said loose gear produces swinging movement of said member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FREDERICK T. FEREDAY. 

